Ahly fans ripped off seats of Cairo Stadium following their side's 3-2 victory over Sfaxien in the African Super Cup on Thursday (Photo: Hany Hathout)
Twenty-five police personnel were injured in clashes with Ahly fans following Thursday’s African Super Cup game at Cairo Stadium, Egypt’s interior ministry said.
Fan trouble erupted following the final whistle, shortly after Ahly won a second successive Super Cup trophy by beating Tunisia’s Sfaxien 3-2 in a thrilling match.
“After the end of the match, section of the fans chanted anti-police slogans before hurling water bottles, seats and fireworks at the forces who were securing the game,” the interior ministry said in a statement.
“On their way out, the fans have also torched a police vehicle and two civilian cars … 10 officers and 15 conscripts were injured as a result. The security forces managed to contain the situation and arrested a number of rioters.”
Around 30,000 die-hard Ahly supporters flocked to Cairo Stadium to cheer on their side in a carnival atmosphere that turned sour at the end.
Egyptian authorities have recently lifted a crowd ban in African competitions but kept it intact in the domestic league, where all matches are being played behind closed doors.
The interior ministry said it may put on hold any plans to allow the fans back to the stands following Thursday’s troubles.
“The ministry is currently reviewing its decision to lift the crowd ban,” the statement added.
There is no love lost between Ahly’s hardcore supporters (Ultras Ahlawy) and the interior ministry. The fan group accused the ministry of complicity in Egypt’s worst-ever football disaster, which left over 70 Ahly supporters dead in Port Said in February 2012.
Intermittent clashes have since occurred between Ultras Ahlawy and security forces.
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